Rick Schmidt spent five-plus years in renewable energy sales — helping solar contractors and small business owners close more deals and grow their businesses. He was great at it. But the upside always belonged to someone else. When he found Growth School, the lead generation agency model clicked instantly. Within days of joining, he was already having conversations with potential clients.
"When I came across the lead generation agency model that David and Derek teach, it immediately clicked for me. It felt like a natural transition from the sales skills I've built over the years into actually creating and growing something for myself."
Training wheels that actually work
Rick was immediately struck by how active David and Derek are inside the program. Not just creating content — genuinely invested in every student's success. Approaching your first client can feel nerve-wracking, and Rick describes their coaching style as having "training wheels on a bike" — guiding you through those early stages so you can deliver a professional experience to clients even while you're still learning.
"They do a really great job of acting like training wheels on a bike. They're there to guide you through those early stages and help you deliver a professional experience to your clients — even if you're still learning."
Get over the fear. Just start.
Rick's number one piece of advice? Stop waiting. If you're anything like him, you've thought about starting a business for a long time — but there's always procrastination in the back of your head. Maybe now isn't the right time. Maybe I'm too busy. The excuses never end.
Step one: Get over the fear. Stop asking "what if I can't do this?" and just go for it. The sooner you make that decision, the sooner you start building.
Step two: Commit to the process. The LGA model goes far beyond lead generation — it's a masterclass in entrepreneurship. Momentum, speed, and taking action.
Step three: Capitalize on momentum. Money loves speed. Don't let yourself slow down just because it feels uncomfortable — that's normal when you're learning any new skill.
Rick's Takeaway
"The principles they teach go far beyond just lead generation. It's really a masterclass in entrepreneurship."
A real market — even in the first few days
Rick was only a few days into the program when he started having conversations with potential trial clients. Uncomfortable? Sure. But it proved something important: there's a massive market for these services. Small business owners who don't know how to generate leads, don't want to figure it out, and are actively looking for a solution.
"Even in the few days I've been doing this, talking to business owners — I can already see there's a real market for these services, in so many niches you could choose."
What stood out to Rick
Genuinely invested founders
David and Derek are extremely active in the program and community. You can tell they're genuinely invested in seeing their students succeed.
Hands-on, guided coaching
They go the extra mile — acting as training wheels when you're approaching your first clients, helping you deliver a professional experience from day one.
A proven, repeatable system
The model made sense immediately to Rick's sales brain. But what surprised him was how much deeper it goes — it's a complete entrepreneurship framework.
Speed to real results
Within days, Rick was having live conversations with potential clients — proof that the market is real and the system works fast.
"If you've spent years building sales skills for somebody else, you're gonna be able to do this. There's a great opportunity to start using those same skills and go build something for yourself."
Ready to use your skills for yourself?
Watch the free training to see exactly how sales reps like Rick are launching agencies with skills they already have.
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